Door lock mechanism



June 29, 1943,.

DOOR LOCK MECHANISM Filed Aug. 29, 1940 f 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATroRNEYs. v

R w. SPRINGER v 2,322,892

June 29, 1943.

R. w. sPRlNGER Doon Loox MEcaAmsn Fuga Aug. 29, 1940 2 sheets-'Sinaai 2 I B an..

A'ITORNEYS.

Patented June2'9, 1943,

- UNITED STATESIPATENT OFI-ica M escasas, Y f ...::f.'f..i:.::....,

Applicltln Alllll29, 1,4.. Sellll N0. 354,680

4 claim. (ci. 'ze-149) .This invention relates to an improved door latching and locking mechanism which is illustrated and particularly adapted for use in automobile body doors. It constitutes an improvement upon the structure of application Serial No. 190,436, tiled February 14, 1938, by this applicant, `which has become Patent No. 2,218,183, October 15,1940.

An object of the invention is to provide locking mechanism of the type described which mechanism is simple and rugged in construction and, which is readily operable and adapted to hold the door securely locked against disengagement or rattle of parts.- The mechanism does not make use of manually operable parts that project objectionably beyond the door surfaces or that project when the lock is operated.

The door lock is capable of being operated from the outside or the inside of the door. AIt is released by axial movement of a plunger or push button which may stand when inoperative substantially flush with the door surface. The push button construction is such that the button may be axially depressed at any time but it is only when it occupies a certain position of rotation that its axial depression will release the lock mechanism. Its depression at other times produces no result and prevents breakage which might result in case unauthorized pressure were exerted against a button locked against depression.. The push button on the outside of the door is key controlled. AThe push button on the inside o! the door is operable to lock the mechanism against release by movement of the outer push button.

'I'his improved lock mechanism includes a rotatable -latch plate which is spring urged toward theproje'cted 'position and a strike bolt which is spring urged toward engagement by the latch plate. A locking element is provided which is spring urged toward engagement with the latch plate to hold it in the projected position against withdrawal upon'. pressure being applied to the door to open it.v Each push button element is independently operable to move the locking element to release the latch plate.. One push button element is provided with a part which is adapted to engage the locking element when it is interlocked with the latch plate to hold it against release movement.

The outside of the door may be provided with an undercut handle which can be grasped to pull the door open. 'Ihe inside of the door may be provided with a handle that may be grasped to pull the door closed or to exert outside pressure to open it. The inner pull handle is positioned in proximity to but slightly above the interior push button so that when the handle is grasped by the hand of an operator the thumb is in` position to actuate the push button.

Means is provided to lock the inner' push but- Y ton against axial movement so that it may not be accidently depressed or may not be depressed by a child pushingagainst it without an additional simultaneous oporation being carried out. This control of the inner push button is performed by trigger mechanism, which trigger mechanism is associated with the inner pull handle. The trigger mechanism is so associated with thepull handle that when the handle is grasped by the hand of one seeking to open the door pressure may be exerted by the hand on the -trigger mechanism depressing the same and as it is held depressed the push button may be actuated to release the latch plate. So long as the trigger mechanism is not depressed the push button can not be actuated.

Other objects, advantages, and meritorious features of this invention will more fully appear from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a horizontal sectional view on line i--i of Fig. 2 looking downwardly upon my improved lock mechanism which is shown as associated with a door structure, the lock mechanism being broken away in part to illustrate the locking construction and showing the latch plate as locked against releasable rotation andthe inner plunger locked against axial movement but with the door not yet completely closed,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line.`

2--2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line I--l of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is aV horizontal sectional view taken somewhat on the line of Fig; 1 but showing the door locking mechanism with the inner push button depressed to permit retractable rotation oi the latch plate and showing the latch plate retracted almost to the point of release, the door having been moved outward but not completely into the open position.

In the drawings the door is indicated as il. The cooperating lamb portion of the body is indicated as` I2. A spring-projected strike bolt of a finger shape is pvotally secured to the jamb face as shown particularly in Figs. l, 2 and 4. There is a bracket Il which is secured to the jamb face and which is of a general U-shape and carries a pivot pim I6. The strike-bolt IHs mounted upon this Divot pin. A spring 20 ls/'coiled about the pin and engages the strike bolt to hold it normally projected to the position shown in Fig. 1. The lock mechanism is carried by the door. 'I'here is a housing 22 which is secured to the jamb face of the door and which carries the locking mechanism. 'I'his housing comprises-a pair of upper/and lower plates shown in Figs. 2 and 3 between which are journalledthe trunnion ends 24 of a latch plate 26. 'I'his latch plate is urged by a coil spring 28 toward the projected position as shown in Fig. 1. The latchl plate is provided with strike bolt engaging catch parts. and 32 shown praticularly in Figs. 1 and 4.

A locking element is provided which comprises a shaft 34 journalled through bearings 36 in the upper and lower walls of the housing 22. This shaft extends through both of these walls. Below the lower wall a coil spring 38 has one end secured to a fixed pin 48 and the opposite end secured within a notch 42 in the shaft to exert a position. 'I'he position of'v this outside plunger is determined by a key which rotates a lock barrel of conventional construction.

The part'll is a wedge shape reinforcement within the casing to support the casing at the point where it is contacted by the latch plate. y

The inner plunger is indicated generally as 6l. I t is held projected outwardly by a spring 82 which encircles it and is seatedwithin a housing 84. This plunger has an axially offset projecting portion. which corresponds to the portion 58 of the outer plunger and which is shown in Figs. 1l and 4 as in the effective position to enf gage the arm 48 of the lock shaft to rotate the torque upon the shaft tending to rotate it so that 'f a lug or arm 44 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 to be brought into engagement with the shoulder 46 on the latch plate to hold the latch plate against retractable rotation.

'I'his lock shaft 34 carries an arm 48 which projects radially from an intermediate portion of the shaft and also carries an arm 56 which is mounted upon the upper end of the shaft as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. `'I'hese arms are so secured to the shaft that pressure exerted against their outer ends in a counterclockwise direction so rotates the shaft as to move the lug 44 out of engagement withl the shoulder 46 of the latch plate to release the latch plate for reversible rotation. 'I'hese two arms are adapted to be engaged by axially shiftable push buttons .or plungel'S. door and the other is disposed on the outside of the door.

The outer plunger is indicated generally by the numeral 52. This plunger is held outwardly by a spring 54 which is mounted within a cylinder casing 56 Within which the plunger i's slidably disposed as shown in Fig. 1. The cylindrical casing is secured to the lock casing. The plunger is pror vided with a shoulder against which one end of the spring bears. Thev opposite end of the expansion spring bears against a constricted portion of the casing. The plunger is provided with a projecting axially offset extension 58 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. 'I'his extension is adapted to engage the arm 50 of the lock shaft as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that depression of the plunger moves the lock shaft to the position shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4 the lock shaft is being actuated by the inside plunger but it is apparent that de-` pression of the outer plunger would move it in the same manner.

This outer plunger has two positions ofrotation. Its eective position of' rotationis shown in Figs. 1 and 2in solid line. Its ineffective position of rotation is shown in Fig. 1 in dotted outline. Fig. 4 also shows it in the effective position of rotation. When the plunger is rotated from the position shown in solid line`in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 through an arc of 180 there is a stop to determine this position inside of the lock cylinder. At such position the plunger is ineffective v to actuate the lock shaft even though it may be axially shiftable. Provision for axial shifting of the plunger at all times prevents any damage resulting from an unauthorized attempt to axially shift the plunger when it is in the ineffective shaft to release the latch plate to reversibley rotation. This plunger is also rotatable to two positions 180 apart. It is shown in one of these positions in solid line in Fig. 1 and in theother position in dotted line in Fig. 1. that this plunger is provided with a detent or lug 68 which is adapted when the plunger is rotated to the position shown in dotted line in Fig. 1 to engage the lug 44 and thereby prevent reversible rotation of the lock shaft by the outer plunger.'l

In other words in this position it is not possible to unlock the door from the outside. The outer plunger is opposed by the lock interposed by the inner plunger.

The two positions of rotation of the inner.

plunger 60 within the casing 64 are determined by a spring pressed tit like element 10 held outward- 1y by a spring 'l2 which rides within a channel 14 formed in the casing 64 and which channel extends 180 about the casing, terminating at its ends in angular extensions 16. -These angular extensions 16 permit axial movement of the plunger. The tit element 10 rides through the extensions during this axial movement and otherwise it rides through the circumferential extension to permit rotation of the plunger through the arc of 180. The inner plunger preferably may terminate at its outer end in a portion 86 which is adapted to be engaged by the thumb of an operator and which may extend diametrically across the circumference of the plunger providing a wing adapted to -be grasped for rotation.

There is a pull handle 82 secured to the inner face of the door in proximity to but slightly above the inner push button or plunger 60. An operator desiring to open the door may grasp this pull handle with the hand at which time the lthumb of the hand isin position to engage the outer end `of the inner plunger to push the plunger 60 inwardly to rotate the locking shaft 34 counter to its spring. Means is provided as follows to lock the inner plunger against such axial movement when it is in the effective position ofrotation shown in solid line in Fig. 1.

The inner plunger has a portion of relatively llarge diameter which forms a snug sliding fit Within the casing 64 and to which extent it resembles the outer plunger. This portion of enlarged diameter is provided with a notch or recess 83 which is adapted to receive the end 84 of a trigger .86, which trigger is pivoted at 88 with-I in a cut out in the handle. This trigger is held as shown in Fig. 1 by a spring 98-so that the end portion 84 is held to engage within the recess 83 of the plunger 68.' When the end 84 of the trigegr is seated within the recess 83 of the plunger it is not possible to axially actuate the plunger.

When an operator grasps the door handle 82 pressure of the finger thereabout'will actuate the trigger much the same as a safety catch on an It Will be ntedautomatic pistol is actuated. Such pressure holds the trigger against the spring 90 and withdrawsfthe end portion l from the recess 83 of the plunger so that pressure of the thumb against the plunger will actuate the lock shaft and withdraw the lug 4.4 from its engagement against the shoulder 46 of the latch plate releasing the latch plate to reversible rotation whereby upon pressure being exerted upon the door to swing v`it outwardly the latch plate will rotate counter its spring 2l and the strike bolt I8 will swing counter its spring 20 and permit opening of the door.

What I claim is:

1. In door lock mechanism having a strike bolt, a rockably supported latch plate spring urged toward interlocking engagement with the bolt, a rockably supported locking element spring urged toward interlocking engagement with the latch plate to prevent withdrawal movement o! the plate from interlocking engagement with'the bolt, a rotatable axially shiftable plunger, said plunger adapted in one position of rotation to engage the locking element against releaseof the latch plate, said plunger being axially shiftable in a second position of rotation to release the locking element from engagement with the latch plate, a door pull handle disposed in proximity to said plunger, bell crank shaped trigger mechanism pivotally disposed in proximity to the door pull handle and spring urged to engage the plunger in the second position of rotation to prevent' axially shiftable movement of the plunger, said trigger mechanism manually operable to release said plunger.

2. In door lock mechanism having a strike bolt, a rockably supported latch plate spring urged toward interlocking engagement with the bolt, a rockably supported locking element spring urged toward interlocking engagement with the latch plate to prevent withdrawal movement of the plate from interlocking engagement with the bolt, a rotatable axially shiftable plunger, said plunger adapted in one position of rotation. to`

engage the locking element against release of the latch plate, said plunger being axially shiftable in a second position of rotation to release the locking element from engagement with the latch plate, a door pull handle disposed in proximity to said plunger, bell crank shaped trigger mechanism supported upon the underside of said handle having a detent at one end engageable with the plunger in the second position of rotation to lock the same against axial movement.

spring means urging the trigger toward such engagement, the opposite end of the trigger shaped to overlie the underside of the handle, saidhandle being recessed to receive said opposite end of the trigger. f

A 3, In door lock mechanism having a strike bolt, a rockably supported latch plate spring urged toward interlocking engagement with the bolt, a rockably supported locking element spring urged toward interlocklngengagement with the latch plate toprevent withdrawal movement of the plate from interlocking engagement with the bolt, a rotatable axially shiftable plunger, said plunger adapted in one position of rotation to engage the locking element against release o'f the latch plate, said plunger being axially shift-l able in a second position of rotation to release the locking element from engagement with the latch plate, a door pull handle mounted on the door above and in close proximity to said plunger, bell crank trigger mechanism pivotally supported upon the underside of the handle and having a part at one end adapted to engage the plunger handle by a spring to cause the part at the other Y end to engage the plunger, said handle being recessed to receive said portion and said portion being receivable therein vto actuate said trigger mechanism to release said plunger.

4. In door lock mechanism having a strike bolt, a rockably supported latch plate spring urged toward interlocking engagement with the bolt. a rockably supported locking element spring urged toward interlockingengagement with the latch plate to prevent withdrawal movement of the plate from interlocking engagement with the bolt, a rotatable axially shiftable plunger, said plunger adapted in one position of rotation to engage the locking element against release of the latch plate, said plunger being axially shift- 'able in a second position`of rotation to release the locking element from engagement with the latch plate, trigger mechanism spring urged 'to engage the plunger against axially shii'table movement and manually operable to release the plungervto axially shiftable'movement, a second rotatably axially shiftable plunger operable in one position of rotation upon axially shiftable movement to vactuate the locking element to release the latch plate, and -key control mechanism v 

